Letters of Invitation for Saudi business visits
Bringing a colleague, supplier, or client to the Kingdom for meetings? A business-visit visa needs a Letter of Invitation from a Saudi sponsor. PROMISE issues LOIs and manages the process, even if you don’t yet have your own entity here.
Get business visitors into the Kingdom
A business-visit visa lets colleagues, suppliers, and clients come to Saudi Arabia for meetings and short-term visits, and it needs a Letter of Invitation from a Saudi-registered sponsor to be issued. PROMISE prepares and submits the invitation and manages the process end to end, even if you don’t yet have your own entity in the Kingdom.
The common reasons visitors need a Letter of Invitation
Meetings & negotiations
Client, supplier, and stakeholder visits.
Events
Conferences, exhibitions, and industry events.
Site visits
Inspections and short project scoping.
Exploratory trips
Scoping the market before setting up in the Kingdom.
What a Letter of Invitation does
A Letter of Invitation (LOI) is an official invitation from a Saudi-registered sponsor that supports a visitor’s application for a business-visit visa. It confirms who is inviting the visitor, the purpose of the visit, and the sponsor’s standing, and it’s submitted and approved through the government’s digital channels (MOFA and, where relevant, Qiwa). Without a valid LOI from a qualifying sponsor, a business-visit visa can’t be issued.
A visit visa is not permission to work
This distinction matters, and getting it wrong causes real problems.
Business-visit visa (via an LOI)
For meetings, negotiations, conferences, site visits, and short business trips. It does not permit the holder to take up employment or be paid by a Saudi entity.
Work visa, permit & Iqama
What you need if the person will actually work in the Kingdom, a separate track.
See Work Visas, Permits & IqamaWe advise on which route a visitor genuinely needs, so a business trip stays a business trip and no one falls foul of the rules.
You can still bring visitors in
A business-visit visa needs a Saudi sponsor, which normally means you need your own registered entity. If you don’t have one yet, PROMISE can act as the sponsor for eligible business visits, so a lack of local presence doesn’t stop you meeting clients, scoping a project, or exploring the market. And when you’re ready to establish properly, we can set up your entity or employ your people through our Employer of Record service.
Why companies choose PROMISE for Letters of Invitation
Correct the first time
We make sure the sponsor, channel, and purpose all line up, so the invitation isn’t rejected or delayed.
The right route
We steer visitors onto a visit visa or a work visa as their situation actually requires, no compliance surprises.
Part of the bigger picture
LOIs sit alongside our work-visa, Premium Residency, and company-formation services, so we can support you from first visit to full presence.
From invitation to arrival
Confirm the sponsor
The invitation must come from a Saudi-registered sponsor with an active Commercial Registration and good standing on the government platforms.
Issue the LOI
We prepare and submit the Letter of Invitation through the correct channel (MOFA, or Qiwa where the visit involves technical work).
Visa application
The visitor applies for the business-visit visa at the Saudi embassy or consulate in their country, using the approved invitation.
Arrival
The visitor travels within the visa’s validity, we advise on single or multiple-entry options to match the trip.
Invitations from a company in good standing are usually processed quickly, though timelines depend on the sponsor’s status and the applicant’s nationality. We confirm what to expect for your case.
Answers before you commit
Can someone work on a business-visit visa?
No. A business-visit visa is for meetings, negotiations, events, and short business trips, not for taking up employment or being paid by a Saudi entity. If the person will work, they need a work visa, permit, and Iqama.
Do I need my own company to invite a visitor?
Normally an invitation comes from a Saudi-registered sponsor. If you don’t have your own entity yet, PROMISE can sponsor eligible business visits for you, so you can still bring people in.
How long is a business-visit visa valid?
It varies by nationality and visa type, commonly a single-entry visa for a shorter stay, or a multiple-entry visa valid for up to a year. We advise on the option that fits your visitor’s plans.
How quickly can an invitation be issued?
Invitations from a sponsor in good standing are usually processed quickly, but it depends on the sponsor’s status and the applicant’s nationality. We give you a realistic timeline up front.
Need to bring a visitor to Saudi Arabia?
Request a consultation and we’ll handle the Letter of Invitation and the right visa route.
Request a Consultation